Celestial Masters

History and Ritual in Early Daoist Communities

Terry F. Kleeman

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English

Harvard University Press
06 April 2021

Asian history; History of religion; Taoism

Series: Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series

In 142 CE, the divine Lord Lao descended to Mount Cranecall (Sichuan province) to establish a new covenant with humanity through a man named Zhang Ling, the first Celestial Master. Facing an impending apocalypse caused by centuries of sin, Zhang and his descendants forged a communal faith centering on a universal priesthood, strict codes of conduct, and healing through the confession of sins; this faith was based upon a new, bureaucratic relationship with incorruptible supernatural administrators. By the fourth century, Celestial Master Daoism had spread to all parts of China, and has since played a key role in China's religious and intellectual history.

Celestial Masters is the first book in any Western language devoted solely to the founding of the world religion Daoism. It traces the movement from the mid-second century CE through the sixth century, examining all surviving primary documents in both secular and canonical sources to provide a comprehensive account of the development of this poorly understood religion. It also provides a detailed analysis of ritual life within the movement, covering the roles of common believer or Daoist citizen, novice, and priest or libationer.

By: Terry F. Kleeman
Imprint: Harvard University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Volume: 102
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 15mm
Weight: 666g
ISBN: 9780674251229
ISBN 10: 0674251229
Series: Harvard-Yenching Institute Monograph Series
Pages: 448
Publication Date: 06 April 2021
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Terry F. Kleeman is Professor of Chinese in the Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Reviews for Celestial Masters: History and Ritual in Early Daoist Communities

The work represents an enormous contribution to Chinese-area studies as well as the broader religious field. Kleeman's erudite analysis, copious translations, and detailed notes ensure that Celestial Masters will serve as a useful resource for both scholars of religion as well as students of Chinese literature, history, and culture.--Lucas Wolf Journal of Asian Studies (1/5/2023 12:00:00 AM)